Schools

They had sat in silence for some time. Severus wanted his student to calm down again. All right, he wanted to calm himself down. He had completely forgotten how such a story could open up old wounds.

But that alone was not enough. He would have loved to get up and go to Petunia and her family and give them a good talking to. But unfortunately he didn't know where Potter lived. Well, of course he knew, but no one could get there, the principal had seen to that. The man said he wanted to protect the boy from the press. By now, however, Severus had strong doubts about the good intentions of his superior.

It was best if he distracted himself for the time being.

"Well Mr. Potter, let's get started but before I teach you anything, I'd like you to do your homework. You haven't even been able to start it yet."

Harry stopped stroking Blacky and looked up at his teacher.

"Not quite. Due to the canceled exams last year, I was able to do some homework already. I'm only missing transfiguration, potions and part of wizardry. I've already done everything else at school."

Severus nodded appreciatively.

"Very forward-thinking. Start on the rest now, then."

Harry nodded and got up from the bed.

He sat down at the table with his school things and started right away.

Blacky lay next to him. The monster book was on his back.

Severus took the Daily Prophet. Only Hedwig was asleep.

Harry had been sitting over his wizardry essay for some time when it suddenly smelled burnt.

When the boy looked up, a hole had just formed in the middle of the prophet. Caused by fire. Harry couldn't help himself.

"Brrrrrrrr, Bonanza."

"Very funny Potter."

Harry almost couldn't catch his breath.

"Professor, I'm doing my homework, so you don't have to burn a hole in the paper to check up on me. Although that's a bit big for an inconspicuous stakeout."

Severus stared darkly at the boy through the hole. The fact that the edges were still slightly on fire didn't make it any better.

"Glad to see you're having such a good time. Do you want to read what those idiots wrote about you?"

Harry grimaced.

"No thanks, I'm not a masochist. Besides, that's all over now but why does an article make you so angry?"

"Because it's written long and wide on this cheese paper that you've tamed a Grimm, held talks with foreign diplomats about politics and that I'm your private tutor."

The boy grew paler and paler.

"And yet you wonder why I don't read articles about myself. What do they mean by diplomats? They were just a couple of tourists."

"I guess that's what you call journalistic freedom."

"Where I come from, it's called lying through your teeth."

"Very appropriate choice of words Mr. Potter. Now get back to work so we can start your extra lessons sooner."

Harry nodded, but then a grin spread across his face. Severus had a bad feeling.

"Professor, you want to show me how to use my wild magic properly, don't you?"

A nod was the answer.

"And you think that's the right method?"

He pointed to the burned newspaper.

Blacky had straightened up in the meantime and was also looking at the man waiting.

Severus was still staring through the hole in the newspaper. Yes, he had lost his temper for a moment. But that was understandable, given the nonsense that was written in that disgraceful paper.

Furious, he crumpled up the paper and threw it into the fireplace. He also shot a flame after it. This time with his wand, though.

"Get on with it. I'll get something else to read."

With that, the man rushed out of the room.

Harry grinned at Blacky and then went back to his homework

The two worked quietly side by side for a few hours. Harry wasn't quite sure what his teacher was working on. Perhaps the lessons for the coming year.

Surprisingly, Harry made good progress with his homework in the quiet company of his teacher. By the evening, he had finished everything.

He looked at his fully written parchments in disbelief.

"What Potter?"

The boy looked up, startled.

"Nothing, I'm just surprised that I've already finished everything."

His teacher raised an eyebrow.

"Even with potions?"

"Yes."

He lifted the pages to clarify.

"Good, then put everything away. We'll have dinner. After that, we'll start the real work."

The boy did as instructed.

They both went out to the meadow with Blacky and then ordered from Tom.

At Harry's pleading look, Severus decided that they would eat in the room again.

"You know you can't always hide. You have to face these vultures and keep your composure."

"And this is coming from someone who torched an innocent newspaper."

Harry quickly ran up the stairs to avoid getting a curse from his teacher.

He was swearing too. But it wasn't spells.

"Naughty brat."

The dog trotting along beside him looked as if it wanted to say 'he's right after all'.

An hour later, the two sat opposite of each other for their first lesson.

This time, Severus made sure that he sat in the chair 'properly'. After all, he didn't want to remind his student of the first potions lesson.

Harry himself sat on the bed with his legs tucked under him. He took turns stroking the monster book and Blacky.

"So Mr. Potter, what do you know about wild magic?"

The boy didn't think twice.

"For one, I shouldn't be able to do it at all."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Wild magic is uncontrolled, it happens and is not used deliberately. Children use it when they're scared or angry. That's what Hagrid explained to me back then."

"Good, anything else?"

"Some parents in the magical world try to bring out the magic in their children by force. Neville's uncle, for example. He held Neville out of the window. He actually wanted the child to do magic through his fear. But the idiot dropped Neville. That's when the wild magic showed itself."

"Longbottom was almost killed by his uncle? No wonder the boy has no self-confidence."

Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Apparently there's nothing worse for wizarding families than a child without magic."

"Right, Squibs is what they call someone without magic."

"They have a name for everything, too."

Severus didn't want to go into it now.

"Anything else?"

"Just that the wild magic stops when you get your wand. At least that's how it should be. Why it was different for me, I don't know."

Severus looked at the boy in front of him for a while. He really didn't seem to know why his magic had broken free.

The teacher took a deep breath.

"On whole, you're right. But there's another reason for wild magic."

The boy looked at him with wide eyes.

"It's not a disease, I hope?"

Severus snorted.

"Potter, if there was even a suspicion that you might be ill, the Minister would have brought you to St. Mungo's long ago. The reason for wild magic can also be that the wizard casting it is very powerful."

"Like you."

Surprised, Severus looked at his student. But then he remembered the paper again.

"Yes, just like me. And as you have seen for yourself, it can be very difficult to control this power. If you don't pay attention once, then disaster happens."

Harry thought about it for a while.

"But why should I have such power? I mean, Hermione is much better than me."

Severus let out a snide noise.

"Ms. Granger is good at school science. But if I gave her a task where she had to be more creative, she would fail."

The look that met his eyes could only be described as scathing.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm not blaming Ms. Granger, I'm just saying it like it is. The best example is flying. Surely you remember the lessons in first year?"

Oh, yes, he did and Snape was right. It was extremely difficult for Hermione to stay on her broom. Even Neville learned faster than she did.

Harry nodded.

"Well, I understand that so far. But still, Hermione knows more spells than I do. She should be able to use wild magic as well."

Severus rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Potter, your friend knows many spells, but she doesn't use them as well as you do."

"What do you mean by that? She's a fast learner."

"Yes, that may be. But when you cast a levitation spell, you don't need as much magic as Ms. Granger. It's not because your friend is Muggle-born, it's because she does too much with her head. You, on the other hand, learn the spell and then don't think about HOW you do it. You just do it."

"So that means Hermione often gets in her own way?"

"Exactly."

"And what about Ron? You're not going to say he thinks too much, are you?"

"More likely the opposite. Blimey Potter, stop with those looks, I'm much better at that anyway. If you want to know for sure, Mr. Weasley is just far too hectic. With him, everything has to happen immediately. If it doesn't, he gets aggressive and that usually ends with his cauldron blowing up."

Harry chuckled again.

"Closely followed by you."

"Save your jokes. Am I going to have to listen to this all summer?"

"I'm still on vacation." The boy sulked. And the mutt jumped onto the bed and snuggled up to his pupil.

'Yeah, just stick together. Merlin, when had he become so childish?

Severus reached across the table and grabbed a book.

"Here, this book describes wild magic in detail. Read it, then we'll start the lesson."

Harry took the book. Then he stared at his teacher, his gaze becoming more and more resigned.

The dungeon master noticed this too, of course.

"Potter, I know you think I'm a terrible teacher."

"You ARE a terrible teacher." The boy interrupted him.

"Don't interrupt me. Besides, it's your own fault if you don't learn anything in my lessons. You just have to pay attention."

The boy was not going to let that sit.

"Pay attention? Professor, the only thing you do is write a recipe on the blackboard and tell us the page number in the book. And then we're supposed to brew. It's like working with a cookbook, but it has nothing to do with teaching."

The boy looked challengingly at the man in front of him.

"If you don't understand something, then ask."

"As if that would do any good. Hermione tried it in first year. You either ignored her or made fun of her ignorance. Otherwise, you're sneaking around the classroom and taking off points. How are we supposed to concentrate?"

Harry was really on a 180. He had always wanted to tell the man all this. But when he tried, he only got points deducted or detention. But now they weren't at school. And he was hanging out with the man for the rest of vacation anyway. He was really curious to see how his teacher would react. He would probably just tell him not to be so sensitive.

Blacky had also sat up again. He stared expectantly and slightly hostilely at the man opposite him.

At first, Severus was really close to shouting at the boy. isn't be arrogant, my ass. But then he thought again.

After the conversation this afternoon, he knew that the boy was certainly not arrogant. Besides, he wasn't trying to be disrespectful either. So Severus thought about it. He tried to recall the lessons of the last two years. And not just those, all his lessons.

What he saw frightened him. He really didn't explain anything, he assumed that the students already knew everything and when they didn't, he put them down.

Damn it, he had told Dumbledoe that he was a terrible teacher and now he had the proof sitting in front of him.

He needed some time to collect himself.

"You're right Mr. Potter, I really wasn't a very good teacher. I love brewing potions and I just can't understand how anyone could not."

Surprised, Harry looked at the man.

"And why did you never say that in your lessons?"

"I did in the first lesson."

"No, you said that we wouldn't learn it and could never understand it. With a few exceptions. And you looked at your godson while you did it."

Severus was a little taken aback. No one was supposed to know that he was Draco's godfather. He had told the boy that time and again. But it was clear that he wouldn't stick to it.

"You're wrong, Potter. I didn't look at Draco because I thought he was gifted. The opposite is the case."

"But he can brew."

"Mediocre."

"Does that mean you give him high marks because he's your godson?"

Severus growled, giving Blacky a run for his money.

"No, I'm giving him good grades I want to but because otherwise I'll lose my job."

"Because of Mr. Malfoy? But you don't have to anymore, he's no longer on the PTA."

Severus laughed humorlessly.

"No Potter, not because of Lucius. Because of Dumbledore, the man expects us teachers to give good grades to the children of wealthy parents. He wants to encourage them to donate. But he hasn't succeeded with Lucius yet. The man knows exactly how lousy his son is."

Harry was speechless. The teachers had to give out good marks? No wonder McGonagall was often in such a bad mood with some students.

"And what does the Ministry say?"

"Hogwarts is a private school, the Ministry can't do anything about the headmaster."

"But all the children of England go to school there."

This time it was Severus who gave the student an incredulous look. Just like Blacky.

The potions master shook his head.

"Potter, you really have a lot to learn. Hogwarts is a school in England, but certainly not the only one or what do you think you're paying school fees for?"

"I pay school fees?"

Severus almost fell off his chair in shock. Blacky, on the other hand, dropped onto his stomach and buried his snout under his paws.

"Of course you do. You wouldn't have to pay anything at a state magic school."

"Who decides whether you get into Hogwarts or another school?"

"There are two ways. Either by the frequency with which wild magic appears in a child, or in what strength or through money. Longbottom's grandmother, for example, donated a considerable sum to the school so that her grandson would be accepted there."

"Great, that means Nev would probably feel more comfortable at a different school where there might not be so much pressure?"

"From a school point of view, definitely."

"And what about Muggle-borns? I mean, I can't imagine parents paying money for a school that doesn't tell them anything."

"Right, and that's exactly what the donations are used for. If a Muggle-born has the necessary magic, the school fees are paid. Otherwise they go to a public school."

"How many schools are there?"

"I can't tell you the exact number. But there are definitely more than 100."

"100!"

"Yes, but that includes elementary schools. Besides, with Hogwarts, there are only ten schools that have a boarding school.

And Hogwarts is an exception here too. Because in the other schools, tutors look after the pupils and the teachers only take care of the lessons."

"And I assume that the schools have different standards."

"That's also true.

But just because a school is open to the public doesn't mean it's worse."

"Hm, then why am I at Hogwarts?"

"Because you're the hero of the wizarding world. Only an elite school was an option for you."

"And who decided that?"

"Your guardian."

"The Dursleys?"

"What, where did you get that idea?"

Harry looked at his teacher in confusion.

"Well, because I live with them. They're my guardians."

"No, they're not."

"Then who is?"

This time nothing could keep the man in his chair. Severus jumped up and paced up and down the room a few times. He had woken Hedwig in the process. Who also complained loudly.

Blacky began to growl again. Then he pressed himself very close to his familiar and licked his face.

"What?" Came from Harry, unsettled.

It was some time before Severus was ready to speak without blowing up.

He sat down again and pulled the chair closer to the bed where the boy was sitting.

"Actually, Sirius Black had guardianship as your godfather. But since he's in prison, he's been stripped of it."

Understanding spread through Harry.

"So the Ministry has guardianship."

"No, Dumbledore has it."

At first, the boy thought he had misheard him but the dark look on Snape's face showed him that he had understood.

"So why did he give me to Aunt Petunia? If it was really about protecting me, I'd be much safer with the headmaster."

The words came out in a whisper.

Severus saw the desperate look on his face and didn't know how to react. But there was probably no right way to. So he stuck to the truth.

"I don't know. He once said to Minerva that it would be better for you not to grow up in the wizarding world where everyone knows your name. You shouldn't be corrupted."

"And growing up in a family that hates me is better for my psyche?"

Harry could no longer contain himself. He burst into tears. He quickly hid his face in Blacky's fur.

Hedwig flew to the bed and nibbled gently on the boy's ear and the monster book looked sad too. If a book could look sad that is.

Now Severus was completely overwhelmed. How was he supposed to deal with a crying child? Yes, he made students cry, but he had never comforted them before.

He got up from his chair and sat down on the bed. He had to push Blacky's tail to the side. Hesitantly, he put his hand on the boy's back.

He was beginning to understand why his colleagues were always so angry when they had to comfort pupils because of him. This was work.

It took some time for the boy to calm down. Slowly, he straightened up again and looked at his teacher.

"I'm sorry, sir."

"Why are you apologizing? It's only understandable that you react like that. It's not a bad thing."

Harry managed a smile.

"Oh no? Why don't you take a look in the mirror?"

Somewhat taken aback by the request, the man complied. When he saw his reflection, he knew why the boy had laughed. He looked like a child who had been told that Christmas would be canceled this year.

The boy giggled again.

Severus looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Professor McGonagall once said that if you only had to comfort a student once, you wouldn't make another one cry."

Against his will, Severus had to grin.

"Minerva should think about a career as a fortune teller."

The dungeon master had not expected what followed.

Harry threw himself backwards in bed, laughing.

That earned him another raised eyebrow.

"Sorry, but just the idea of the professor sitting in front of a crystal ball. That's too funny."

"You have way too much imagination."

And again the boy laughed. How easy it was to please this child.

When Harry had calmed down, he looked around briefly.

"Professor?"

"Yes?"

"We're all sitting in my bed again."

That threw Severus for a moment. Blacky, however, was already tossing and turning again.

Somehow, Severus couldn't help himself at that moment.

"But this time I'm not with my shoes on the sheets."

As soon as he had said that, Harry's self-control was gone and Severus smirked.

At some point, the boy got a grip on himself again. He fished for the book on wild magic.

"So I have to read the book before you teach me."

Severus was surprised by the change of subject, but went along with it.

"You'd best start with that. I'll teach you at the same time but not only on the subject of wild magic. They have many other deficits as well."

"Oh no, no potions, please. Then the whole room will stink of the fumes."

Severus smirked.

"Don't worry, I wasn't thinking of that. I want to teach you about the wizarding world. About etiquette and politics."

"Okay, that sounds interesting at least. As long as you don't teach in the same way as Professor Binns."

"Surely not. The only thing you'll learn from that guy anyway is that he's history himself and that in the truest sense of the word."

Harry grinned.

"Who said you didn't have a sense of humor?"

"Students who don't get it."

Severus looked at his watch and stood up.

"It's getting late, you should go to bed. Here, give this to Blacky. It's a healing potion for his teeth. That idiot forgot it today."

"Oh, thank you sir, and um, good night."

"Good night Mr. Potter."

The man stroked the dog once more and then went to his room.